About us
QueerTech strives to queer the tech ecosystem by breaking down barriers, creating spaces, and connecting communities to support and empower LGBTQ2S+ people to thrive.
In 2016, QueerTechMTL was created as a meetup group, in partnership with MontrealNewTech, to surface and connect fellow LGBTQ+ (Queer) professionals within the local tech industry. We quickly grew from casual meetups into a center of LGBTQ+ tech activity, and within 2 short years, we incorporated as QueerTech, a non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal.
“We continue to partner with QueerTech to create opportunities for LGBTQ2S+ members of the tech industry to connect, collaborate, succeed and thrive together. Our partnership with QueerTech is a necessary bridge to the LGBTQ2S+ community, and scaling-up its capacity would mean that companies like us can have greater engagement and impact with the LGBTQ2S+ tech community in regions across Canada.” --Microsoft Canada
As we expand our scope and goals to create a connected QueerTech network across Canada and beyond, we do so with the following intentions, and with a goal of queering the global tech ecosystem.
Our values
QueerTech is committed to:
Inclusivity
QueerTech aims to create and maintain a diverse community that fosters a sense of belonging.
Helpfulness
QueerTech aims to provide and create equal access to resources and opportunities in order to strengthen the tech community.
Pride
QueerTech believes that you can be your true self and thrive in tech, and strives to empower community members to achieve their full potential.
Accessibility
QueerTech aims to break down all barriers to entry and provide everyone with equal opportunities to participate in and contribute to the tech community.
Our Mission Defined
What does Queering the tech ecosystem mean?
A founding pillar of Queertech is Pride, and because of this, we are committed to empowering Queer people to claim their space within the tech community and have their voices heard. We do this in two ways: by breaking down barriers to create opportunities for Queer people to enter the tech space, and by providing resources such as skill development to allow Queer people already in tech to thrive. To accomplish this, we provide resources to companies and hold workshops in order for them to create and foster more inclusive workspaces and hiring practices. By Queering the tech ecosystem, we aim to give Queer people in tech the tools to find their voices and speak up for what they need to be successful.
What it means to Thrive
QueerTech aims to empower our members to achieve their personal and professional goals by bringing their authentic selves wherever they go. We strive to encourage a sense of belonging that comes from both giving and contributing to your community. We believe in education, in reciprocity, and that everyone has something to teach and learn. By combining all of these factors, we hope to build strong communities to help Queer people thrive.
Breaking Down Barriers
At QueerTech, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to shine. As such, we are committed to breaking down all existing barriers into the tech community, as well as identifying what factors may keep Queer people from contributing. This includes tackling issues of representation of all types, mental health and well-being, physical accessibility, and any other barriers that are brought to our attention. We commit to providing the appropriate resources so that everyone has the support they need when they attend a QueerTech event. Beyond our events, we also aim to educate companies and other organizations on how to make their spaces more accessible and inclusive, to end discrimination and unequal opportunity within the tech community.
Creating Spaces
QueerTech believes in creating inclusive, supportive spaces in order to strengthen the tech community. We create physical spaces through our monthly events as well as digital spaces through our online platforms to provide networking opportunities and meaningful connections amongst our members.
Connecting Communities
An integral part of Queertech is fostering a sense of community for our members. We are passionate about identifying and connecting communities through intersectionality and creating partnerships between individuals and nonprofits. Our goal is to connect Queer communities all around the world, to create a global network of members and support systems.
Supporting and Empowering Members
Queertech is dedicated to onboarding new members into the tech community as well as providing resources and support for those already involved. We offer workshops, boot camps, and seminars to equip our members with the skills necessary for professional and personal advancement. We provide opportunities for knowledge sharing and mentorship and encourage everyone to contribute. We hope to ultimately provide the tools necessary for Queer people to start their own companies.
Upcoming events
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Inclusive AI in Practice: A Cross-Sector Roundtable
·OnlineOnlineMoving from Conversation to Implementation
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping workplaces, products, services, and decision-making systems across sectors. As organizations accelerate AI adoption, many teams are being asked to make high-impact decisions without clear governance structures, shared implementation standards, or practical guidance for assessing risk, accountability, accessibility, and long-term impact.
Across workforce, technical, and community contexts, organizations are grappling with how to ensure AI is implemented in ways that are inclusive, responsible, and grounded in real-world realities. HR professionals, AI practitioners, nonprofit leaders, governance stakeholders, and community advocates each hold critical perspectives on how AI systems can either reinforce existing inequities or help build more equitable futures.
This in-person QT Inclusive AI Roundtable brings together professionals across sectors for a facilitated cross-sector working session focused on one core question:
What do organizations actually need in order to implement inclusive AI responsibly in practice?
This session is designed as a collaborative implementation lab where leaders and professionals can explore the real-world challenges of implementing AI responsibly, share practical insights across sectors, and help shape the tools, frameworks, and approaches organizations need to move from theory into action.
Through guided dialogue, peer exchange, implementation exercises, and collaborative activities, participants will explore:
- where AI is already influencing organizational decisions and systems
- the governance, operational, and accountability tensions organizations are navigating
- how different sectors experience and define AI risks differently
- where misalignments and gaps currently exist
- what practical tools, frameworks, and supports are needed to move from theory into implementation
Grounded in queer-informed approaches to systems, safety, accessibility, and community-centred accountability, this session centers lived experience as a critical source of implementation insight. Participants will examine how AI systems can unintentionally reproduce invisibility, exclusion, surveillance, or harm when deployed without meaningful community grounding or governance structures.
This session is part of QueerTech’s broader initiative to move from conversation into practical implementation. Insights gathered through this roundtable will directly contribute to the development of community-informed toolkits, frameworks, case studies, and practical resources designed to support organizations implementing inclusive AI across sectors.
The session will include both implementation perspective-based discussions and cross-sector exchange, creating space for participants to deepen within their own organizational realities while learning from different approaches, constraints, and experiences across the ecosystem.
Participants are encouraged to bring:
- real organizational scenarios
- current implementation challenges
- governance questions
- operational tensions
- decision points they are actively navigating
Following this roundtable, there is a QT Connect for the broader community at the same location in the evening.
Participants will Leave With:
✨ A clearer understanding of the governance, operational, and accountability challenges organizations are currently facing in AI implementation
✨ Cross-sector perspectives on how AI risks, tensions, and opportunities are experienced differently across workforce, technical, governance, and community contexts
✨ Greater insight into the practical tools, frameworks, and supports organizations need to move from intention into responsible implementation
✨ New ways of thinking about inclusion, safety, visibility, and accountability through queer-informed and lived-experience perspectives
✨ Practical ideas, questions, and next steps to bring back into their organization, team, or community
✨ Connections with peers across sectors navigating similar implementation realities and decision-making challenges
✨ The opportunity to contribute to the development of future QT Inclusive AI resources, frameworks, and toolkits
This roundtable is supported by WAGE (Women and Gender Equality) Canada and by RBC’s approach to helping strengthen the capacity of Canada’s nonprofit sector.Who Should Attend
This session welcomes professionals working across:
- HR, workforce, and organizational leadership
- AI, product, design, and technical systems
- Nonprofit, public, and community-serving organizations
- Governance, policy, accessibility, legal, and strategy roles
- Research, advocacy, and ecosystem-building spaces
No advanced technical expertise is required.
Event Details
📅 May 28, 2026
🕑 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
📍 Toronto | In Person
🗣 Language: EnglishAbout QT Inclusive AI
QT Inclusive AI is a national initiative designed to support professionals across Canada in understanding, assessing, and applying inclusive AI practices within real organizational contexts. Through curriculum, assessment tools, facilitated dialogue, and community-informed resource development, participants examine how AI systems are being used in practice and where risks, tensions, and opportunities are emerging.
The goal of QT Inclusive AI is to help translate responsible AI principles into practical implementation across technical and non-technical environments.
Read more on the QueerTech website: https://queertech.org/en/qt-inclusive-ai
If you have questions about the program, contact:
Amos B.
Program Manager, Community Learning and Development
amos@queertech.org
Sign up today!3 attendees
Q2 2026 - Connect Meetup Toronto @ EY
Location not specified yetPlease Register in this link: https://queertech.info/QTConnect2026_Toronto_Q2
Don’t miss your chance to connect, grow, and celebrate with the 2SLGBTQIA+ tech community!
Join us for the QTConnect Meetup in Toronto — a vibrant, in-person event designed to foster connection, career development, and community-building among 2SLGBTQIA+ tech professionals and allies.
Each quarter, we bring QTConnect to spotlight local voices and create inclusive spaces for queer folks in tech. Toronto’s dynamic tech scene and diverse queer community make it the perfect place to come together, share experiences, and spark meaningful conversations.Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting out, this meetup is your chance to expand your network and build lasting relationships. Expect engaging discussions, new connections, and a fun, welcoming atmosphere where everyone belongs.
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: EY - 100 Adelaide St W 40th floor, Toronto, ONWe don't want ticket costs to be a barrier to joining us in this discussion. We have scholarship and volunteer tickets available. To sign up for a scholarship ticket or to volunteer, fill out this form.
Event Schedule & Agenda
5:00 pm Registration & Networking
5:45 pm QT & Partner Welcome and Announcements
6:00 pm QT Inclusive AI
6:45 pm Ask & Offer
7:00 pm Open Networking
7:45 pm Event Closes
Community Asks & Offers- Need support from the community (mentorship, looking for a job, connections)?
- Have resources to provide to the community (mentorship, office hours, connections)?
- We always provide time for the community to Ask for the things they need or Offer the resources they have available during our Community Asks & Offers!
Thank you to our HOST!
About EY Canada (Toronto)EY is a global professional services organization committed to building a better working world for people, clients, and communities. In Toronto and across Canada, EY actively supports diversity, equity, and inclusion as core business priorities, recognizing that inclusive teams drive better outcomes and innovation.
EY is a long-standing advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace and beyond. Through initiatives such as EY Pride, employee-led networks, inclusive benefits, leadership education, and community partnerships, EY creates environments where LGBTQIA+ professionals can bring their full selves to work. They also collaborate with community organizations and clients to advance equity and inclusion in the regions where they operate.
EY is currently hiring across multiple teams in Toronto and welcomes LGBTQIA+ talent to explore opportunities to grow, innovate, and make an impact in a workplace that values diversity and belonging.
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See QueerTech Event Terms & Conditions for more information.
1 attendee- Network event
QT Leaders Nonprofit: Assessing Digital & AI Readiness
·OnlineOnline7 attendees from 6 groupsFollowing the initial ecosystem discovery session, this roundtable focuses on understanding and assessing organizational readiness for digital transformation and AI adoption.
This session invites participants to step back and assess where their organizations currently stand. Through structured peer dialogue and guided reflection, leaders will determine how digital tools are already shaping their work, what internal capacities exist to support responsible adoption or non-adaption, and where further clarity or safeguards may better support.
The goal of this session is organizational insight, identification and level setting. By identifying current practices, governance structures, and potential risks, participants will continue developing a clearer picture of what responsible digital and AI readiness looks like currently within their organization, and where they want to go.
Roundtables prioritize peer learning and contextual dialogue. Leaders are invited to bring real organizational scenarios. Insights from these conversations help inform shared resources, frameworks, and case studies for the sector.
Note: While this session is designed as a structured readiness assessment conversation, event description may evolve based on insights surfaced during the first roundtable.
A confirmed agenda will be updated April 29, 2026.
In this session, participants will explore:
✨ Where AI and digital tools are already appearing in operations and decision making
✨ Organization digital maturity and readiness
✨ Governance and decision making structures
✨ Risks, responsibilities and safeguards for community-focused organizations
✨ Immediate takeaways to bring back to their organization and teamSession Details
📅 Date: May 27
🕓 Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
💻 Location: Virtual, Zoom
🗣 Language: EnglishWho Should Attend
Nonprofit leaders, directors, and decision-makers navigating digital transformation, data governance, or emerging AI tools within their organizations.About QT Leaders: Nonprofit Digital Futures
QT Leaders: Nonprofit Digital Futures is a national program bringing 2SLGBTQIA+ nonprofit leaders together through virtual roundtables and regional gatherings from April-November 2026. This program is supported by RBC, who recognizes the critical role that inclusion plays in helping to strengthen the capacity and future of Canada's nonprofit sector. Resources developed from the conversations and regional gatherings will be made available to those registered after each event, and post program.
Read more about the program’s information here.
To read more about RBC's approach to helping strengthen the capacity of Canada's nonprofit sector, click here.“® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license.
If you have any questions about the program, reach out to amos@queertech.org.Sign up today!
1 attendee from this group - Network event
QT Leaders Nonprofit: Evaluating Risk, Opportunity & Capacity
·OnlineOnline6 attendees from 6 groupsNonprofit leaders are often navigating digital transformation with limited time, capacity and budget. Determining whether a technology should be explored, implemented, or avoided requires careful consideration of governance, risk exposure, mission alignment, and the realities of their organization.
Building on the previous session’s exploration of organizational digital maturity and readiness, this conversation moves from assessment to evaluation strategies. After identifying where digital tools and AI are already appearing within their organizations and what the current and future landscapes may look like, participants will now examine what responsible adoption policies would look like for them.
Roundtables prioritize peer learning and contextual dialogue. Leaders are invited to bring real organizational scenarios. Insights from these conversations help inform shared resources, frameworks, and case studies for the sector.
Note: While this session is designed as a peer-informed evaluation conversation, the exact discussion focus may evolve based on insights surfaced during the first two roundtables. A confirmed description will be updated by May 27, 2026.In this session, participants will explore:
✨ Current use and non-use cases
✨ Evaluation frameworks with: mission alignment, community trust, and organizational values, in mind
✨ Risk considerations including governance gaps, data responsibility, and vendor reliance
✨ Organizational capacity requirements
✨ Immediate takeaways to bring back to their organization and teamSession Details
📅 Date: July 15
🕓 Time: 1:00-2:30 PM ET
💻 Location: Virtual, Zoom
🗣 Language: EnglishWho Should Attend
Nonprofit leaders, directors, and decision-makers navigating digital transformation, data governance, or emerging AI tools within their organizations.About QT Leaders: Nonprofit Digital Futures
QT Leaders: Nonprofit Digital Futures is a national program bringing 2SLGBTQIA+ nonprofit leaders together through virtual roundtables and regional gatherings from April-November 2026. This program is supported by RBC, who recognizes the critical role that inclusion plays in helping to strengthen the capacity and future of Canada's nonprofit sector. Resources developed from the conversations and regional gatherings will be made available to those registered after each event, and post program.
Read more about the program’s information here.
To read more about RBC's approach to helping strengthen the capacity of Canada's nonprofit sector, click here.
“® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under license.
If you have any questions about the program, reach out to amos@queertech.org.Sign up today!
1 attendee from this group
Past events
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